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4th major encounter in Srinagar outskirts
BSF Commandant, SI among
4 killed at Takenwari

From Ahmed Ali Fayaz

SRINAGAR, Nov 13: In the worst ever setback of the last 5 years while combating insurgency in Kashmir valley, Border Security Force (BSF) today suffered considerable damage as the pro-Pakistan Hizbul Mujahideen militants killed the Commanding Officer, a Sub Inspector (SI) and a soldier of 60 battalion in yet another fierce encounter in the capital city outskirts here. Even as the authorities believed that all the 3 militants responsible for the offensive got killed in exchange of fire with the paramilitary forces at Takenwari, Iddgah, dead body of only one militant had surfaced at the site of encounter till late this evening.

In other militancy-related incidents in Kashmir valley since last evening, unidentified gunmen fired upon a school-teacher at Pahalgam, an explosion occurred in the premises of a hospital at Pulwama while as, once again, militants attacked the residence of a former legislator in Tangmarg area.

Highly-placed BSF sources told EXCELSIOR that Commandant of 60 Bn of the paramilitary force Vinod Sharma, SI Bir Singh and Constable T John Keneddy were critically injured when a group of holed up militants targeted them with a shower of automatic gunfire at Takenwari, in the northern outskirts of the capital city at 0930 hours today. While the troops maintained the siege and engaged the Hizbul Mujahideen militants in a 4-hour-long encounter, the injured personnel were rushed to hospital. They succumbed to injuries before reaching the hospital.

The BSF party had just returned from a patrolling in Gund-e-Roshan locality between Srinagar and Ganderbal where the Commandant had conducted an inspections of several paramilitary pickets. While returning to the battalion headquarters, he received specific information regarding the presence of a group of pro-Pakistan militants and accordingly his troops laid siege to Takenwari locality. As he was leading the troops to the target house of one Nazir Ahmed Dar, the militants trapped inside fired volleys of automatic fire resulting in critical injuries to the Commandant, the SI and the soldier.

Within minutes, reinforcements of BSF and Special Operations Group (SOG) Srinagar rushed to the spot. One of the militants got killed in his abortive attempt to escape from the cordoned area. He was later identified as Abu Shaheen, ‘company commander’ of Al-Badr company of Hizbul Mujahideen. Officials described him as a foreigner and said that 3 AK-56 rifles were recovered from the site of operation. Senior police officials including IGP Kashmir PS Gill said that two more militants were believed killed. However, no more dead bodies had been recovered till late this evening. The target house, alongwith an adjacent structure, were destroyed in the operation. The fire subsided in the evening and the debris would be searched next morning.

Even as the residents alleged that the troops destroyed at least four residential houses and three cow-sheds, besides beating up a number of civilians, no civilian casualty took place in today’s encounter.

Death of a senior BSF Commandant, alongwith two others, has come as a major setback for the counter-insurgent security forces. Even as a number of Deputy and Assistant Commandants had got killed in different militancy-related incidents in the last several incidents of insurgency here, militants had not been able to kill a BSF Commandant in Kashmir valley since 1993 when the Commanding Officer of a battalion Mr Dharam Prakash had got killed in action. BSF has raised a market in his name at Pantachowk in this city.

Today’s encounter at Takenwari has further exposed the presence of heavily-armed groups of militants in the capital city outskirts, after a pause of about three years. Reports emanating from different quarters have been suggesting the presence and movements of the fresh groups of militants in almost all the peripheral localities of Sadarbal, Lal Bazar, Soura, Palpora, Takenwari, Qamarwari, Bemina, Tengpora, Hyderpora, Pirbagh, Wanbal, Nowgam and Lasjan. After a long time of half-baked normalcy, armed clashes are being witnessed between the militants and security forces in the capital city. To begin with, 2 foreigners of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen had got killed in an encounter with SOG Srinagar at Bemina colony last month. On November 8, four militants including two foreigners of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen got killed in a clash with SOG Budgam and RR-35 at Pirbagh. On November 11, three foreigners of ‘Lashkar-e-Toiba’ got killed in a major encounter with BSF at Gorkha Colony, Nowgam.

Elsewhere in the Valley, three incidents were reported from Pahalgam, Pulwama and Tangmarg.

Official sources said that last evening militants appeared at Vullarhama hamlet near Pahalgam and made an attempt to kidnap a school-teacher namely Mohammad Abdullah Sheikh son of Mohammad Akbar Sheikh. Even as the gunmen fired upon him and he sustained injuries in his thigh, he jumped out of his house. His family members raised a commotion and the militants escaped from the house. He was rushed to District Hospital Anantnag for treatment.

At the premises of old hospital at Pulwama town, a crude explosive device went off at 0820 hours which had been planted under an ambulance. The vehicle suffered partial damage. However, nobody was injured. Official sources said that the explosion seemed to be the result of some "rivalry" between two groups of the hospital drivers.

Sources said that for the fourth time in the last three months, militants attacked the residence of a former MLC and mainstream political activist Ghulam Ahmed Beg alias Noon Beg at Kralveth in Tangmarg area. The house-guards returned the fire. Nobody was reported from either side as all the militants managed to escape. Taking full advantage of the decreased night patrolling of the security forces, militants have been attacking the residential houses of mainstream political leaders in Pattan-Gogaldara belt for the last three months. They have even snatched away the rifles of some house-guards.

Elsewhere in the Valley, three incidents were reported from Pahalgam, Pulwama and Tangmarg.

Two militants, civilian killed in Doda
15 civilians injured in attack by
Army, VDC men

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 13: Fifteen persons were injured, two of them seriously, when they were beaten-up jointly by Army jawans and Village Defence Committee (VDC) members at village Jaullu in Gandoh tehsil of Doda district. The incident followed arrest of four VDC members involved in a rape case.

The thrashing of civilians has generated tension in the village with local people threatening to migrate if action was not taken against the erring personnel of Army and VDC. Police officers have rushed to the village and were camping there to defuse tension.

A police spokesman quoting the local people said that a strong posse of Army jawans and VDC members, carrying weapons with them, attacked village Jaullu in Gandoh tehsil of Doda district last mid-night and started beating the local people of a particular community including women and children. They used rifles butts, iron rods and sticks in thrashing the people.

The fear-stricken people deserted their villages and started running helter skelter for safety. However, the rampaging security personnel chased and beat-up whosoever came their way. The free for all drama continued for more than half an hour after which the Army and VDC personnel retrieved

Few people, who managed to survive the securitymen’s onslaught rushed to a nearby police picket and narrated the incident. In the morning, a police party from Gandoh rushed to the village. Senior officers also visited the spot to defuse tension, simmering among the village.

The police spokesman said all 15 injured villagers have been admitted in the sub district hospital at Gandoh. Condition of two of the injured persons was stated to be critical and they have been referred to district hospital of Doda.

The spokesman said the thrashing of civilians appeared to be in retaliation to a complaint lodged by the people of Jaullu villages alleging rape on a girl by four VDC members. On the basis of complaint, police had arrested all four VDC members and lodged them in police station for investigations.

District police and civil administration has taken up the issue with Army authorities. Police was camping in the village to restore confidence among the people and defuse the prevailing tension. A case in this connection has also been registered at Gandoh police station for further investigations but no arrest has been made so far.

Meanwhile, two militants and a civilian were killed in a fierce gun-battle between security forces and militants at village Shanu in Doda tehsil.

A police spokesman said Army personnel retaliated to the heavy firing on them by a group of militants when they were conducting search operations at village Shanu in Doda area last night. Exchange of firing between both the sides continued intermittently for more than three hours.

Troops gunned down two militants in the encounter while others managed to escape and fled towards adjoining forest area. A civilian was also trapped in the exchange of firing and was killed. He has been identified as Nizam Din son of Sandoo Bhar, a resident of Shanu.

All three dead bodies were recovered from the spot and have been handed over to police. Police handed over dead body of the civilian to his family members after post-mortem in the hospital.

Troops continued search operations in the forest area to eliminate the absconding militants. The operation was going on with the help of Special Task Force (STF), the spokesman said.

Meanwhile, a Defence spokesman said, a dreaded militant Gulzar alias Bitta son of Mangat of village Patnai in Doda district surrendered before Commanding Officer of 26 Rashtriya Rifles and police today. He was an activist of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit.

He handed over one AK-47 rifle, 90 rounds of ammunition and two hand grenades before Army and police at a ceremony organised in Thathri tehsil.

The spokesman said the intense pressure mounted by the security forces on militants and persuasion by the family members led to the surrender of militant.

Migrants threaten to intensify agitation

Excelsior Correspondent

KATHUA, Nov 13: Migrants of border areas today decided to intensify their agitation in protest against Government’s failure to concede their demands even after 17 days of their agitation.

The migrants today floated their new body with the name of Refugees Action Committee and elected Mr Dev Raj Sharma as its president. The Committee was formed after abolition of Border Action Committee (BAC) headed by Mr Nanak Chand, who had been expelled from the Committee for allegedly ‘hobnobbing’ with the State Government to sabotage the ongoing agitation.

The newly elected president of refugees Action Committee addressed the migrant families camping at Tehsil Headquarters and vowed to intensify the agitation and take it to logical conclusion. He said the new Committee won’t rest till they succeed in getting their all legitimate demands conceded from the Government.

As a step towards intensification of agitation, the Committee announced launching of fast from tomorrow morning at the Tehsil Headquarters, where migrants were already staging dharna. The 11-member Committee threatened that as a last step, it will be forced to go in for the blockade of Jammu-Pathankote National Highway if Government failed to meet with their demands.

The migrants were demanding that they be settled at safest village to protect their families from Pakistan firing besides compensation and other facilities for the losses caused to their crops.

MLA Hiranagar Mr Prem Lal has extended support to the new committee.

The district administration officers today again visited Hiranagar and tried to talk to the migrants’ representatives to defuse the crisis and ensure migrants’ return.

Working at the Tehsil Headquarters of Hiranagar remained crippled for last 17 days as the entire office complex has been captured by the migrant families, numbering about 500 and hailing mostly from Londi, Khwarha, Sade Chak and Regal villages.

Retrieving ceremony amidst firing
Three teen-aged Pakistan boys returned by BSF

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 13: As a goodwill gesture, the Border Security Force (BSF) handed over three teen-aged Pakistani nationals to Rangers at border outpost of Jabowal in RS Pura sector this evening. The ‘retrieving ceremony’ was held amidst continued firing between the two sides in other posts of the International Border in Jammu sector.

The teen-aged boys handed over to rangers at a brief ceremony at Jabowal post at 1630 hours today have been identified as Mohd Abdul son of Azizullah, Karam Sajjad and Sahil Sajjad, both brothers and sons of Mohd Anwar, all residents of forward village of Bajra Garhi in Sialkot district.

BSF sources said the teen-aged youths had crossed over to Indian territory by mistake on November 8. They were challenged and taken into custody by the BSF guards immediately after they reached within the Indian side.

Sources said the intruders were subjected to detailed questioning during which it was established that they had crossed over to this side of the border by mistake. They were playing in their village of Bajra Garhi, located right on the International Border, when they entered into this side.

In the meantime, the Rangers also took up the issue with the BSF authorities after getting a report of boys’ missing from their family members. The Rangers sought return of the boys as they were innocent and had nothing to do with the activities of illegal border crossing.

The BSF responded as it was well established that the boys were not related to any militant activity, the sources said, adding accordingly a function was organised at Jabowal post this afternoon. The three boys were handed over to Rangers in the function for restoring them to their family members.

The boys were given packets of sweets by the BSF jawans. "It was just a goodwill gesture to return the boys so that they re-unite with their families", a BSF officer said.

He said Rangers also returned three cattle which had exfiltrated to Pakistan while grazing in the fields. The cattle belonged to local people of Jabowal and have been restored to their owners.

Meanwhile, notwithstanding the goodwill gesture by the BSF authorities, Pakistani Rangers continued unprovoked firing on Indian positions at different posts on the International Border in Jammu sector throughout the last night and this morning.

Reports said the firing was intense in Hiranagar, Samba and Khour sub sectors. The BSF personnel also returned the firing at all the places and exchange of firing continued without any casualty on the either side.

Pakistan had been resorting to unprovoked and heavy firing targeting Indian civilian and security installations. The firing was being retaliated effectively by the Indian security forces. A number of civilians have been killed or injured in exchange of firing on both the sides.

Indian stand on Pokhran tests vindicated: PM

PHULOKHARI (PUNJAB), Nov 13: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today said partial lifting of sanctions by the United States was acknowledgment by foreign countries that the Pokhran nuclear tests were conducted in self-defence and not targeted against any country.

Addressing a gathering after laying the foundation stone of the Rs 9,806 crore oil refinery here Vajpayee, in an implied criticism of the five declared nuclear powers for adopting double standards towards complete nuclear disarmament, asked "if they can have nuclear weapons, why can’t India?"

Without naming the US or any other country, he said those who imposed sanctions in the wake of nuclear tests, had failed in their attempts to isolate India.

"No country can suppress us when the Government has the support of 100 crore population", he said.

India would like to have friendship with its neighbours in order to increase trade and other development activities in the region.

The refinery having an annual capacity of nine million tonnes is being set up by the Hindustan Petroleum and the Punjab State Industrial Development Corporation in this village about 50 kms from Bhatinda.

The Prime Minister accepting a suggestion by Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal announced that the refinery would be named after Guru Gobind Singh, founder of the 300-year old Khalsa Panth.

Expected to be completed within 48 months, the refinery will provide employment to 1,000 skilled persons.

The Prime Minister said the Lok Pal Bill, which aims at checking corruption at high places, would be brought in the coming session of the Parliament.

The Prime Minister would also come within its purview, he said adding the Bill was held up as the Congress was opposed to inclusion of the Prime Minister.

He said corruption flowed downwards from the top. "The small fish gets caught in the net whereas the big fish goes scot-free", he said.

When the BJP-led Government took over, he said various parts of the country, including Kashmir, were not peaceful. Economic development was affected because of that, he said.

He announced that the Centre would give compensation to farmers for the loss of various crops, including cotton and paddy, damaged due to recent unseasonal rain.

Vajpayee said the refinery being set up here was the result of the decision of Punjab not to bow before terrorists.

The Prime Minister said the credit for the return of peace and normalcy in Punjab should go to the people and the BJP-Akali Dal coalition Government in the state.

The Centre fully understands that Punjab should get justice and developmental projects, he said and assured the people that the Centre would not lag behind in helping the state.

Vajpayee said the eight-month-old-coalition Government formed at the Centre after crossing various hurdles was alive to its duties and responsibilities.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who also spoke at the function, said the refinery project would result in an investment of about Rs 16,000 crore as various ancillary units would also be set up.

Badal demanded a special economic status for Punjab with a view to making it an industrially advanced area.

He urged the Prime Minister to set up a committee of agricultural experts, Chief Ministers and Foreign experts to recommend steps for promotion of agriculture.

Badal called upon Sikhs outside the state to vote for the BJP in the November 25 Assembly elections. (PTI)

Cong keeping options open on post-poll scenario

NEW DELHI, Nov 13: Congress today appeared to be keeping its options open on the post-poll scenario of BJP’s defeat in the coming Assembly election saying there was a need for secular forces to come together to fight the "growing menace of communalism".

At a press conference here, top party leaders Pranab Mukherjee and Manmohan Singh parried all questions on whether the party would dislodge the BJP-led coalition at the Centre in case BJP lost the elections and what it was doing on CPI (M) leader Harkishen Singh Surjeet’s suggestion for Congress leading an anti-BJP grouping.

While Manmohan Singh said "we will cross the bridge when we come to it", Mukherjee said it was "too premature" to come to conclusions on the realignment but definitely there was need for secular forces to come together to tackle the growing menace of communalism.

To a question, Mukherjee said the Prime Minister’s rejection of the coming polls as a referendum on his coalition’s performance was an "admission of defeat".

"The fact that one of the constituents of the BJP-led coalition is going to observe December 6 as a Black Day is a measure of credibility of the Government and its leader", senior party leader, Manmohan Singh said.

Releasing the highlights of the party manifesto for the coming elections in four states, the party came down heavily on the BJP-led Government at the Centre describing it as an "unmitigated disaster’s".

Singh and Mukherjee said Govern-ment’s performance was an "all round failure" on economic, political, security and international fronts.

Manmohan Singh said in the last three years there had been a lack of steady and consistent hand at governance resulting in continuous slipping of economy. "It is only the misery index of people of India that is going up, " he said.

On BJP president, Kushabhau Thakre’s blaming allies for the performance of the Government, he said the leader of the coalition and its main party could not be absolved of their responsibility for "non-perfor-mance’s.

He said the BJP had claimed during the Lok Sabha elections that it was A "coalition with a difference" because as a strong party it would be leading the grouping.

The former Finance Minister said the economic situation was deteriorating despite the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister announcing a package every day which was not being followed by concrete action.

He cited Prime Minister’s announcement of construction of link roads connecting North and South as also East and West at the cost of Rs.28,000 crore as one such example. He said till now the Government did not have a blueprint for such a massive project or for various packages offered for industrial and agricultural revival. (PTI)

Indo-Pak talks end without any headway

NEW DELHI, Nov 13: India today rejected Pakistan’s charge of adopting a "rigid and inflexible" attitude in resolving outstanding issues and asserted that New Delhi will continue to approach the bilateral talks in a "serious, constructive and positive" manner without any third party mediation.

The nine-day second phase of the composite Indo-Pak dialogue ended this afternoon with both sides failing to make any headway on issues relating to Siachen, Tulbul Navigation Project, Sir Creek Maritime boundary dispute and terrorism.

However, both sides struck a positive note on promoting friendly exchanges in various fields and agreed to meet again by November 20 to finalise an agreement on the much-awaited Delhi-Lahore direct bus service. Both sides also decided to enhance people-to-people contacts.

A Pakistani delegation spokesman termed the outcome of the parleys as "totally disappointing" and said "we had come with high hope for moving forward on resolution of bilateral disputes."

Harping that the settlement of the "core" issue of Jammu and Kashmir was vital for promoting friendly relations between the two neighbours, he said "once the fundamental and core issue is resolved, everything else will follow".

Vivek Katju, Joint Secretary in the External Affairs Ministry said New Delhi had every intention of making progress in the talks. "We entered the negotiations with an open mind on all the six (identified) issues and approached them in a serious, constructive and positive manner... We will code this process".

India had firmly told Pakistan that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of the country and that it is not a disputed territory.

Rejecting Pakistan’s suggestion that the two sides should take recourse to the UN charter and seek outside intervention in resolving outstanding issues, New Delhi categorically said there was no room for third party mediation and solutions to the problems had to be found bilaterally under the 1972 Simla agreement.

To a question if Simla agreement was still relevant, the Pakistani spokesman said the accord was very much valid and Islamabad remained committed to and respected it.

At the same time, he charged India with violating the Simla agreement by not agreeing to redeployment of troops on Siachen glacier to pre-1984 position.

On economic and trade ties, both sides have agreed to work out a framework to discuss cooperation in the fields of power, railways and telecommunications. Pakistan has also agreed to consider in due course according India the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status.

The next phase of the composite dialogue to discuss peace and security including confidence building measures and J and K at the Foreign Secretary level and official-level talks on six other outstanding issues is likely to be held early next year. (PTI)

K oil dealer among two held for black-marketing

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 13: Border Police have arrested two persons including a kerosene dealer for black-marketing of kerosene oil in RS Pura town. A large quantity of kerosene oil has been seized by the police while the shop of dealer has been sealed.

SSP Border Mr Kamal Saini said an RS Pura police station party raided the kerosene oil outlet of Bhajan Singh son of Gopal Singh, a resident of Kotli Shah Dula in RS Pura last evening following reports that the dealer was indulging in black-marketing of kerosene oil alongwith one of his associate, causing unnecessary shortage of the essential commodity.

During raid, police arrested Darshan Kumar son of Mokam Chand, a resident of village Jasool in RS Pura tehsil, who was coming out of the shop carrying five tins containing 60 litres of kerosene oil. The dealer was refusing kerosene oil to local people saying it was out of stock. But, on the other side, the oil was being sold in black-market.

Sources said police arrested both the dealer and his associate Darshan Kumar and whisked them away to RS Pura police station where they were subjected to interrogation.

After questioning, police raided the residence of Darshan Kumar at village Jasool from where 280 litres of kerosene oil was also recovered and seized. Darshan Lal told police that he had purchased kerosene oil in black-market from Bhajan Singh and dumped at his house. He used to sell kerosene oil at Rs eight per litre to the local people as against prescribed rate of Rs three per litre.

Police have registered a case of black-marketing against both the accused at RS Pura police station and started investigations. Police have also written to Food and Supplies Department for cancellation of kerosene oil dealership of Bhajan Singh for indulging in illegal practices.

Jagmohan in Indo-US Parliamentry
Working Group

WASHINGTON, Nov 13:

Mr Jagmohan, Bharatiya Janata Party MP from New Delhi, has been appointed co-chairman of the US-India Parliamentary working group from the Indian side, in addition to Mr Murli Deora, Congress MP from Mumbai, who has already been serving in this capacity.

Democratic Congressman Jim McDermott, who is co-chairman of the group from the US, made the announcement about Mr Jagmohan’s appointment here last night. The name of Mr Jagmohan, a former Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, was recommended by BJP president Kushabhau Thakre, he said.

The group is now gearing up for its working session scheduled to be held in New Delhi in February next. "The group has an excellent leadership in India with Mr Jagmohan joining co-chairman Deora. My US colleagues and I look forward to working closely with our Indian parliamentary counterparts in what promises to be an important mission," he added. (UNI)

Accused in fake stamp case held

Excelsior Correspondent

KATHUA, Nov 13: Police today arrested another accused involved in duping the state exchequer by charging toll tax from trucks at Lakhanpur with the help of fake stamps and letter heads of Excise Department.

Identified as Sat Pal son of Des Raj, a resident of Pathankote, the accused was arrested by a Lakhanpur police party led by SI Mr Kuldeep Khajuria from Pathankote. He was instrumental in making fake stamps of Excise Department for the accused by charging huge amount.

He has been brought to Kathua for interrogation. Two accused in the case had already been arrested by the police.

Killing of Dr Wani condemned
Hashim urges Kashmiris to reject mercenaries

Holland, Nov 10: The Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Liberation Party (JKDLP) has strongly condemned the dastardly assassination of Dr. Ghulam Qadir Wani, in his home in Bandipora, Kashmir. His murder is yet one more proof of a deep -rooted conspiracy of our enemies to liquidate the ideologues of the freedom movement so that Kashmiris are coerced into abandoning the cause for which they have made tremendous sacrifices during past decades, the JKDLP chairman, Mr Hashim Qureshi said in an e-mail to EXCELSIOR.

He said that the murder of Dr. Wani, a pioneer among the Kashmiri ideologues, and the foremost in the vanguard of freedom struggle, is not an isolated event. It is in line with the murder of a number of other outstanding Kashmiri intellectuals and ideologues among whom are included stalwarts like Molvi Farooq, Dr. Guroo, Qazi Nisar, Mir Mustafa, Maulana Masudi, Maqbul Malik, Abdus Sattar Ranjoor, H.N. Wanchoo, Lassa Koul and others.

His assassination is another moment of deep introspection for the people of Kashmir. They should have no difficulty in understanding that a welcome call given to the "guest mujahideen", mercenaries and the Taliban militiamen by some leaders is nothing but to invite the destruction of our motherland and liquidation of the leading lights of our struggle. It should be remembered that those who promote or spread violence, will be consumed by violence, sooner or later. Kashmir has always suffered at the hands of outsiders who have engineered their destruction in the guise of sympathizers or co-religionists, the JKDLP said.

Mr Qureshi said that Kashmiris have to learn a lesson from their past history. The motive of the mercenaries in liquidating the intellectuals and ideologues is to create a situation in which Kashmiris become helpless and succumb to intimidation. Kashmiris must put a question to themselves whether these mercenaries are their saviours or destroyers? A nation that depends on others, particularly the mercenaries, must know that all that they do is helping themselves pass from slavery to slavery and not from slavery to freedom.

JKDLP appealed to the people of Kashmir to reject the mercenaries, reject the leadership that persuades them to welcome the mercenaries, and their sponsors, and thus save their intellectual community to guide them in their struggle. It appeals to them to shun violence and fratricide and think of positive but non-violent ways of achieving their objectives.This will be the best tribute they can pay to their martyrs and their ideologues like Dr. Ghulam Qadir Wani.

Mr Qureshi said that Dr. Ghulam Qadir Wani was one of the pioneers of armed struggle in Kashmir. He recalled when he had met him for the first time in Washington towards the end of 1992 in the chamber of Mr. Ghulam Nabi Fai. "I argued with him against the taking up of the gun by our militants but he did not agree with me just because at that point of time, he was under the influence of Pakistani agencies. Prior to his visit to Washington, he had issued a press statement in Srinagar against me for preaching non-violence.The same Dr. Ghulam Qadir Wani wrote to me in March 1995 saying that I was right in what I had told him in 1992. He has since returned to Srinagar," Mr Qureshi recalled.

The letter was written by Dr Wani to Mr Qureshi on March 13, 1995 from Muzaffarabad (PoK). Excerpts from the letter:

"Dear Brother Hashim Qureshi Sahib:

Hope you are fine along with your family members. With the growth of experience, I find the increasing truth and weight in your words. I have come to the conclusion that mere bookish knowledge is not enough: real importance rests with the experiences gained in the field of action.

Here, a weekly Jamaat-e-Islami paper called Zindagi of Lahore published an interview with Amanullah Khan. The interviewer, Mr. Najmul Hasan Arif is the same journalist who has written a lot against Yasin Malik and Shabbir Ahmad Shah describing them illiterates and immature. He also wrote many things against Kashmir's freedom. Now he has brought out an interview with Amanullah Khan only to counter Azam Inquilabi. Amanullah Khan has gone down to such depths of levity that he has called an old friend and a highly dedicated activist of freedom movement and an able leader, Muhammad Azam Inquilabi as a 'mental case'.

In the course of four years, he has changed a number of parties.If by joining JKLF and APHC, Amanullah Khan has not become an accessionist, how come that Azam Inquilabi becomes an accessionist by joining Tehreek-e-Hurriyat-e-Kashmir? You must have a look at this interview in order to understand to what extent shamelessness and levity one can fall. Today, I am reminded of each word you had spoken and each assertion is vindicated by circumstances. You may send a copy of this letter to Shakeel Sahib and to Shabbir Sahib.

In the public meeting of March 11 at Muzaffarabad (held in connection with late Khurshid), I made a strong protest against and I exposed Amanullah Khan. Kindly let me know your reaction.

In conclusion, I am sorry that I always differed with you but after having gone through the experience I find you were right. Yours sincerely: Ghulam Qadir Wani"

4 killed, minor girl injured in mishaps

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 13: Four persons were killed in separate accidents across the region today. Two of the victims were killed on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway

Reports received here said that a 26-year old youth Romesh Kumar son of Balak Ram, a resident of village Kawa in Udhampur district was killed when his tractor turned turtle near Udhampur on Jammu-Srinagar Highway this morning. He was on way from Kawa to Udhampur when the accident occurred.

A police party reached the spot and shifted the victim to hospital where he was declared dead.

A tanker operator was killed when the petrol tanker No. 1780 JKS, he was driving, skidded off the road and rolled down about 50 feet deep into a nullah at Tikri on the National Highway. The driver identified as Ved Parkash son of Gauri Dutt, a resident of Roun Domel was killed on the spot in the accident.

Police party brought out the victim from the over-turned tanker but he had died on the spot. His body has been handed over to his family after post-mortem in the hospital.

Dead body of another youth Manzoor Ahmed alias Tiger, a resident of Khanabal in Anantnag district was recovered under mysterious circumstances from Narwal By-Pass under the jurisdiction of Trikuta Nagar police station this morning.

The body was picked-up by the police and has been shifted to mortuary of Medical College. Anantnag police has been informed about the recovery of the dead body and asked to send family members of the deceased.

A case has been registered at Trikuta Nagar police station for investigations. Reasons behind the death hasn’t been ascertained so far.

Another dead body was recovered from canal at Gorakh Nagar in Bahu Fort area. The victim hasn’t been identified so far. Body has been sent to Medical College for identification.

A minor girl Ayush daughter of Brij Mohan Sharma sustained burns when the Maruti Car No, 1662 JKD in which she was sitting caught fire at Krishna Colony of Kathua district. The girl has been referred to Medical College hospital.

Reports said she switched on tape-recorded in the Van. The Van caught fire due to spark.

Vajpayee Govt wants to remain in power: Sonia

CHITTORGARH (RAJASTHAN), Nov 13: Congress president Sonia Gandhi today said that the Vajpayee Government at the Centre was not at all concerned with the people’s problems and its only preoccupation was how to remain in power.

Addressing an election meeting here in this Fort city, Mrs Gandhi said that the common man has been crushed under the weight of fast rising prices of essential commodities like onions and potatoes but the BJP Government had been providing "protection" to the hoarders and black marketers.

Mrs Gandhi was on the final leg of her two-day campaign trail in the state for the November 25 Assembly elections.

Charging the Shekhawat Government in Rajasthan with inefficiency and insensitiveness, Mrs Gandhi said that the Government had done no good for the people. Be it the matter of enhancement of tax burden on the farmers, imposed by the Centre or the instances of adulteration in edible oils, the State Government had never come forward with a helping hand to defend the interests of the farmers and had remained a silent spectator during the natural calamities, she added.

Ms Gandhi said that neither the BJP Government had the will nor capability to implement welfare scheme she said that the pace of development should be accelerated when there were Governments of the same party in the state as well as at the Centre but this unfortunately had not happened in Rajasthan.

Referring to the Congress party’s pocketing 18 of the 25 Lok Sabha seats in the February 6 Lok Sabha elections in the state, Ms Gandhi said that the general elections results reflected the people’s intentions of seeking change of the Government.

Ms Gandhi assured that the Congress would ensure welfare of the people if her party came to power.

State Congress president Ashok Gehlot, former Chief Minister Shiv Charan Mathur also spoke at the meeting. AICC general secretary Madhav Rao Scindia was accompanying Ms Gandhi.

Addressing another public meeting in Pali town of Western Rajasthan the Congress president called upon the people to dislodge the " inefficient and insensitive" BJP Government out of the office in the Assembly elections to bring the state on the path of development.

She said that the present BJP Government had completely stalled the process of development in the state and had "failed" on all fronts. (UNI)